CONJUNCTIONS
A
conjunction is a part
of speech that (1) joins words, phrases, and clauses and
(2) indicates a relationship between the joined elements.
There are four kinds of conjunctions.
Coordinating
Conjunction
A coordinating conjunction
is a single word that joins words, phrases, and clauses of equal
grammatical construction. Examples are knives
and spoons (noun & noun), run or
shout (verb & verb), down the stairs
and around the house (prepositional phrase &
prepositional phrase). Coordinating conjunctions also join
complete sentences, i.e., independent clauses. These
conjunctions also imbue equal grammatical weight, or rank, to
the joined elements.
Correlative
Conjunction
A correlative conjunction is
a paired conjunction that, like a coordinating conjunction,
joins elements of equal grammatical construction. Correlative
conjunctions also imbue equal grammatical weight to elements
they join. However, they do not join independent clauses;
these paired conjunctions only join equal elements within an
independent clause, forming compound elements, i.e., subject
& subject, verb & verb, object & object,
etc.
Subordinating
Conjunction
A subordinating conjunction
is an adverb that introduces a subordinate adverbial clause
and joins the subordinate clause to the rest of the sentence.
The idea, or proposition, expressed by the subordinate clause
has less grammatical weight (rank or importance) than the idea
expressed by the main clause. Subordinating conjunctions are
not true conjunctions; their name, however, derives from their
ability to join clauses. Most subordinators are a single word,
but some are composed of two or more words, i.e., a
phrase.
Conjunctive Adverb (Includes transitions & adverbial
expletives)
A conjunctive adverb is an
adverb or adverbial phrase that joins two independent clauses
(like a coordinating conjunction) and provides adverbial
emphasis. However, conjunctive adverbs are not considered true
conjunctions.
Sometimes a conjunctive adverb can
function as a connector, or bridge, a word or
phrase that helps to link entire sentences or paragraphs.
Conjunctive adverbs that perform this function are called
transitional elements or
transitions.
Finally, an adverbial word or
phrase can function as an expletive, i.e., a function
word. (See below.) An expletive is an
exclamatory word inserted into a sentence that adds nothing to
the meaning of the sentence.
+ Usage
Note
A function word, e.g., an article, preposition, or
conjunction, is a word that has little semantic meaning of its
own and chiefly indicates a grammatical relationship. Also
called a form word or
functor.
I. COORDINATING
CONJUNCTION
(Joins words, phrases, clauses)
There are
seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but,
or, yet, so --> F-A-N-B-O-Y-S.
A coordinating conjunction joins
elements of equal grammatical construction, e.g., two or more
nouns, verbs, phrases, or clauses. Additionally, coordinating
conjunctions can join two or more independent clauses into a
single sentence. When joining independent clauses, a
coordinating conjunction also joins the propositions, or
ideas, expressed in each independent clause. Coordinating
conjunctions lend equal weight, or importance, to the
grammatical elements and the ideas they join.
In the
following examples, coordinating conjunctions appear in
accentuated text; the joined elements are
underlined.
Jack and Jill went up the
hill.
(Coordinating conjunction joins two grammatically
equal elements: two nouns, Jack and Jill.
Additionally, the elements joined by the coordinating
conjunction are equally important to the idea of the sentence,
i.e., the nouns Jack and Jill are equally
important to sentence meaning.)
The fur of polar
bears is often pure white, but
sometimes one will find a bear with grey
fur.
(A coordinating conjunction joins
two independent clauses. The conjunction gives equal weight to
the idea expressed by each clause.)
You'll
find shampoo products on aisle two or on aisle three.
(Coordinating conjunction joins two prepositional
phrases, grammatically equal elements. Also, the coordinating
conjunction gives equal weight to both
phrases.)
The industrialists are
monsters, so we believe
their doctrine is monstrous.
(Two
independent clauses are joined.)
The parish
priest is desperate and
anxious, for his
congregation is nearly gone.
(Two nouns
are joined; in addition, two independent clauses are joined by
for.)
The Irish famine of 1846-50
took a million lives, nor was a
single household spared hardship.
The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights seeks to protect humankind, yet abuses around the world continue to
rage unchecked.
Semantic Relationship of
Coordinates
As we have seen,
coordinating conjunctions, or coordinates, all share the
same function of connecting words, phrases, and clauses
with equal emphasis to the joined elements. These same
coordinates, however, each express a specific semantic
relationship between the joined elements. |
| and |
• joins two propositions
(ideas) |
| Ex: In 376 B.C.E.,
several Greek cities joined in a naval alliance against
Sparta; and Athens won back control of the sea. |
| |
| but |
• joins two contrastive
propositions (ideas) |
| Ex: The wine is
sweet, but the bread is moldy. |
| |
| or |
• joins two alternative
propositions (ideas) |
| Ex: Is that a
distant oasis, or do my eyes deceive me? |
| |
| so |
• first idea (the cause)
results in second idea (the effect) |
| Ex: The
honeymooners began quarreling, so now they sleep in
different rooms. |
| |
| for |
• used to mean seeing
that, since, or because |
| Ex: He went to the
party alone, for I refused go with him. |
| |
| nor |
• used in negative
expressions |
| Ex: He nor I plan
to attend any social functions this year. |
| |
| yet |
• used to mean though,
still, and nevertheless |
| Ex: The pudding is
good, yet it could have been better. |
Usage Note
The conjunctions and,
but, or, so, and nor can join words, phrases,
or clauses. However, for and yet can join
only independent clauses. Consequently, some grammarians
consider the former a preposition and the latter a
subordinating conjunction. |
|
